238 EDIBLE BRITISH MOLLUSCA. 



judgment, but who is it to execute its decrees ? Tem- 

 poral power being palpably unavailing, the spiritual 

 tribunal steps in ; the decision of the magistrates beiDg 

 useless, perhaps excommunication may suffice. This 

 then was an established maxim. If the criminal could 

 be reached, it was handed over to the ordinary courts 

 of justice; if, however, the matter was beyond their 

 control, it fell within the jurisdiction of Ecclesiastical 

 Courts." Bartholomew de Chasseneux, a noted lawyer 

 of the sixteenth century, gives the foil owing form of 

 excommunication. " snails, caterpillars, and other 

 obscene creatures, which destroy the food of our neigh- 

 bours, depart hence ! Leave these cantons which you 

 are devastating, and take refuge in those localities 

 where you injure no one. J. N. P/' etc. 



On the 17th of August, 1487, snails were sentenced 

 at Macon.* The Norwegians are said to have had a 

 " Lemming-Litany " in their church service, in which 

 these pests were most solemnly exorcised. f 



The shells of Helix pomatia are used for making small 

 whistles tor children. The apex of the shell is cut off, 

 and a piece of tin added; they are then sold for a penny 

 each; and who does not recollect the wonderful cats 

 made of the shells of the common garden snail, Helix, 

 aspersa, with heads of putty or cement, and how 

 anxious we were to become possessors of these beautiful 

 creatures ! They are now seldom seen, except in some 

 small out-of-the-way shop in a country town or village, 

 such trifles not suiting the tastes of the precocious 

 juveniles of the present day. 



* ' Qneer Culprits, Curiosities of the Olden Times,' by S. Baring 

 Gould, M.A. 



t ' Norsk, Lapp, and Finn,' by Frank Vincent, Jun., p. 98. 



